Tapping system for liquid container or the like



Apr-1l 21, 1964 ,1. F. slMoN 3,129,730

TAPPING sYsTEM FOR LIQUID CONTAINER 0E THE LIKE Filed Juiy 14, 1961:10H/V E :SIMON United rates Patent Of 3,129,730 TAPPING SYSTEM FORLIQUID CN'IAINER @R THE LUG?. John F. Simon, Shaier Township, AlleghenyCounty, Pa. (356 Marzoif Road, Pittsburgh 9, Pa.) Filed .luly 14, 1961,Ser. No. 124,220 Claims. (Cl. 141-286) This invention relates to atapping system for liquid containers or the like such as, for example,casks having a gas-charged beverage or other liquid therein. Inparticular, this invention relates to a quick coupling and uncouplingtapping system for new beer kegs or the like or for the conversion ofconventional beer kegs `or the like to provide prompt placement ofliquid containers in service, the removal thereof from service whensubstantially empty and the maintenance of prompt and sound delivery ofthe liquid during service in optimal condition.

Pursuant to this invention, new casks may be constructed, orconventional casks or kegs converted to provide a tapping system inwhich such liquid containers can be quickly put into service and removedfrom service. Further, in new constructions in accordance with thisinvention, means are provided for safeguarding the coupling elementsagainst damage, for insuring removal of substantially all of thecontents of the liquid container and the discharge thereof in soundcondition which, in the case of beer, for example, may mean the deliveryof beer, at a bar spigot, which is neither wild nor flat. And stillfurther, such new construction provides means for keeping the liquiddischarged free of sediment and allows the cask or keg, or other liquidcontainer, to be readily cleaned between fillings and uses and to havethe contents thereof replenished in a normal way preparatory to reuseand reconnection of the refilled container in a tapping system operationof this invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings,which are illustrative of one ernbodiment only, in which FIGURE l is aview in vertical cross section of a beer keg embodiment of a tappingsystem operation of this invention with the keg in service;

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation, with parts broken away, showing theliquid discharge coupling and discharge pipe in the dispenser conduitfor the keg shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a View in elevation, particularly in section, of the airinlet coupling and a portion of the air inlet conduit used in the systemoperation for the containers shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line IV--IV of FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a View in elevation of a lower fitting of a coupling havinga plastic cap snapped thereon such as may be used when the embodiment isnot in service.

Referring to the drawings, a metallic cask in the form of a beer keg hasa continuous wall 11 inclusive of a top head 12, a bottom head 13 andcircumferential bilge lands 14. A bung hole 15 is provided between thelands and normally closed by a threaded bung 16. Although theillustrated embodiment is applied to a metal keg, the invention isequally applicable to wooden casks and kegs and to other liquidcontainers of carbonated beverages, gas-charged liquids, or non-chargedliquids. A cupshaped chamber 17, which may be a one-piece casting orstamping, is provided with an upper peripheral portion 18 which in thecase of a converted container, may be welded to the edge of a hole ofcorresponding size cut in head 12 around the joint 19 where theperiphery 18 and head 12 meet. Such chamber defines an inwardlyextending recess 20 which in the embodiment shown is provided with3,129,730 Patented Apr. 2l, 1964 ICC drilled and tapped openings 21 and22 through well bottom 23 of chamber 17. In this way, a lower liquiddischarge fitting 24 and a lower air inlet fitting 25 are countersunk ineffect when liquid discharge coupling 26 and air inlet coupling 27respectively are uncoupled.

Couplings 26 and 27 preferably are of the Snap-tite quick connection andquick disconnection type. In addition to speeding the tapping operation,the couplings 26 and 27 provide protection against spillage of theliquid which normally occurs during tapping by other systems. Thus, asshown in FIGURE 3, coupling 27 comprises lower fitting 25 and upperfitting 28 respectively of male and female character. Male fitting 25 isprovided with a threaded adapter 29, the lower end of which engages inpressure-tight relation with threads of hole 21. The upper end ofadapter 29 threadably engages nipple 3f) of fitting 25 which has acylindrical male portion 31 with a circumferential groove 32 therein. Avalve disc 33 is provided within nipple Sil and guided by a spider guide34 operative in the bore of ange 31. A lower valve stem 35 extends aboveguide 34 and below valve disc 33 through a perforated plate 36 whichguides the lower end of lower stern 35, such plate 36 having centralguide perforation and flow perforations positioned annularly around it.A spring 37 normally under compression automatically seats valve 33 onan annular internal seat 38 whenever upper fitting 28 is uncoupled andseparated from lower fitting 25.

The internal parts of the upper fitting 2S corresponding in constructionand function to the internal parts of lower fitting 25 are provided withthe same reference numerals with the addition of the letter u thereto.An upper adapter 39 is internally drilled and tapped to threadablyengage the lower end of a clear plastic sight tube 40, while theexternal threaded portion of adapter 39 engages the internal thread onnipple 41 of upper fitting 28. The upper end of tube 40 is tapped toreceive a flexible hose connector 42 having a sawtooth shank 43 overwhich a fiexible pressure air inlet -hose 44 is placed and clampedthereto in fiuid-tight relation by a clamp 45.r Flexible tube 44 is apart of a pressure air-conduit system connected to an air pressuresource (not shown) to maintain the interior of liquid container 10under, preferably, a predetermined pressure when the container 10 is inservice for the discharge of liquid.

The lower end of upper fitting nipple 41 is provided with a downwardlyextending cylindrical flange 46 which fits over cylindrical male portion31 when the balls 47, loosely engaged in holes circumferentially aroundflange 46, are able to move outwardly as they may when a ferrule 4Swhich has an annular finger projection 49 is retracted against thepressure of spring Sil. After movement of the fittings 25 and 28 intocoupling position as shown in FIGURE 3, release of ferrule 48 forces theballs 47 into the groove 32 to lock the fittings together and safeguardthe coupling 27 against disconnection unless and until ferrule 48 isagain retracted. When ferrule 4S of coupling 27 is retracted when thefittings are in coupled relation, fitting 28 can be quickly uncoupledfrom fitting 25 and the joint broken. When such is performed in the caseof coupling 26, which is of the same construction as coupling 27 in theillustrated embodiment, it and coupling 27 may thereby be quicklydisconnected so that a liquid container like keg 10 can be quickly takenout of service when it is substantially empty and returned to thebrewery or elsewhere for cleaning and refilling.

In order to insure against any blowback when fitting 28 is connected tofitting 25, the lower end of the tubular connector 42 is preferablyprovided with an elastic Thomas valve 51 which acts as a check valve byvirtue of a slit 52 therein which will admit air moving toward lowerfitting 25 to pass thereto but will prevent any gas 3 or liquid tryingto ow in the opposite direction up through valve 5l. FIGURE 4illustrates this by showing the slit 5?. in a section taken along theplane of that opening. As shown in FIGURE 5, each lower tting 25 and 24when the container to which they are attached is out of service may besealed against the induction of dirt and other matter into the interiorthereof from the outside of the container by the use of a plastic cap 53having an internal bead Slt which will snap into groove 32 when cap 53is applied, such cap being made of a material such as polyethylene.

Coupling 26 has an adapter 55 in its lower fitting 24 like adapter 29with the addition that a screen 56 preferably is press iitted across thebore of the upper end of adapter 55. A discharge pipe 57 for liquidssuch as beer tapped from time to time from container itl is in press fitrelation at its upper end 58 with the axial portion of adapter 55 belowscreen 55. A sleeve 59 is provided for the lower end of pipe 57 to whichit is secured by separable dimples, the sleeve having an internal flangeto coact with the bottom edge of pipe 57 to lit a second screen 60across the inlet end of pipe 57. That inlet end is in a depression 6l onthe inside of head 13 to enable beer in internal recess 62 above thelevel of screen 6i) to iiow into and be discharged through pipe 57whenever the liquid discharge conduit is opened. Discharge pipe S7preferably is located generally adjacent the axis of container lt) andis provided with a bend 63 normal to the axis of bung hole l5 so thatafter being emptied, container 1t) may be cleaned and refilled withoutobstruction occurring due to pipe 57. As screen from FIGURE 1, pipe 57can be easily removed from the apparatus for cleaning or replacement.

The liquid discharge conduit is continued when coupling 26 is incompleted locked condition by the internal passageway through upperfitting 64 similar to upper fitting 28 and through the interior of anadapter 65 similar to adapter 39 and through a clear sight tube 66 ofplastic or glass. The upper end of tube 66 is threaded to engage aninternal thread on a nut 67 which holes a hose connector 68 thereto; andconnector 63 has a sawtooth shank 69 over which a flexible conduit 7d isplaced and held in fluid tight relation thereto by a clamp 7l. The upperend of flexible conduit 70 may terminate in a spigot (not shown) for abar in a tavern or other place where the liquid within container It? isto be dispensed. With the tapping system shown in the illustratedembodiment connected and the couplings made, opening of such spigot willallow air, where that is the gas used to pressurize the interior ofcontainer lit, to flow into the container and maintain the selectedpressure condition therein for the flow of liquid out through dischargepipe 57 and the remainder of the liquid discharge conduit to the spigotthat has been opened, such flow of liquid in question continuing untilthe spigot is closed. Moreover, such liquid flow in the case of beer,for example, will be subjected to predetermined conditions selected bythe user so that such beer will arrive at the spigot with the properamount of foam, being neither too wild nor too ilat. Additionally thetapping system of this invention may be utilized and elements pertainingthereto installed in new liquid containers as they are constructed inthe factory or conventional containers may be converted to an embodimentand utilization of the tapping system of this invention. Furthermore,this invention is applicable to other liquids than beer or gas-chargedliquids, and, to containers of various shapes. When the liquid containeris empty or has been emptied to the plane of screen 60, it may virtuallyinstantly be taken out of service upon shutting down the pressure sourceconnected to conduit hose 44, by retracting the ferrule 4S andcorresponding ferrule 72 and separating the respective upper fittingsfrom the lower fittings of each of the couplings. Then container 10 canbe removed and the lower fittings capped by caps 53, or a cover may beused across the top of well recess 20, to remain in place while thecontainer is returned to the plant where it is to be cleaned and relledbefore being returned for reconnection to the fittings 2S and 6dor toother fittings of corresponding character since tapping system elementsof this invention and installations thereof are interchangeable at thevarious places Where such are installed.

Various changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment and inelements thereof and other embodiments without departing from the spiritof this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A tapping system for liquid containers, comprising in combination, aliquid container having an opening through which said container may belilled, a well chamber in the surface of said container, said chamberbeing generally cup-shaped having an outer peripheral portion joined tothe adjoining portion of the surface of said container, a pair ofquick-connected axial movement couplings each having parts respectivelycomprising a male fitting and a female fitting, each of said fittings ofa coupling having a self-closing valve therein automatically operativeupon separation of said parts, one of said fittings in each couplingbeing mounted in said chamber and extending respectively through thebottom thereof into communication with the interior -of said container,the outer ends of said respective last-named fittings being whollyWithin said chamber, a discharge pipe within said container connected toone of said last-named fittings and extending substantially to theopposite inside surface of said container, said discharge pipe havingscreen means therein and a bend in a plane normal to the axis of saidopening, each of the other of said iittings in each coupling beingadapted to be connected to exible hose conduits respectively connectedto a dispenser for said liquid and to a gas pressure source exteriorlyof said liquid container, a sight tube connected at least to thecoupling adapted to lead to said dispenser at one end and said dischargepipe at the other, and a check valve positioned in operative associationwith said coupling leading to said gas pressure source to prevent uiddow toward said source.

2. A tapping system for liquid containers comprising in combination, aliquid container having ends and a normally closed opening on the sidethrough which said container may be lled, said container when empty offluid having substantially its ent-ire interior empty, a depressionchamber in the surface of one end of said container facing outwardly, atleast a pair of quick-connection axial movement couplings each havinginterlitting parts, each of said parts being self-closing automaticallyupon separation of said parts, one of said parts of each coupling beingremovably connected to said chamber to extend into communication withthe interior of said container, the outer ends of said last-named partsbeing within said chamber, a liquid discharge pipe within said containerconnected to one of said last-named parts and extending inside saidcontainer to the opposite end thereof, said discharge pipe being shapedto pass around the projection of said opening toward the opposite sideof said container, the other of said parts of each coupling beingadapted to be for conduits respectively connected to a dispenser forsaid liquid to be connected to said discharge pipe and to a gas pressuresource outside of said container.

3. A tapping system for beer kegs and the like, comprising incombination, a keg having a bung hole in nhe side thereof through whichsaid container may be iilled and upper and lower heads, said keg whenempty of liquid having substantially its entire interior empty, acountersunk portion in said upper head, a beer discharge quickconnectioncoupling part adapted to be xed within said portion in communicationwith the interior of said keg, a beer discharge pipe connected to saidpart and extending substantially to the lower head of said keg and toone side of said bung hole, a pressure air inlet quick-connectioncoupling part adapted to be fixed within said chamber in communicationwith the interior of said keg above the liquid level in a lled kegresting on its lower head, each of said coupling parts having a valvetherein to close automatically upon axial movement separation therefromof another part of an axial movement quick-connection coupling adaptedto coact therewith, and a diametrically sloping depression in said lowerhead for association with the lower end of said discharge pipe topromote emptying of said keg.

4. A tapping system as set forth in clairn 3, in which said beerdischarge coupling part and pipe are provided with screen strainingmeans for said beer and adapted to be connected to a conduit for thedispensing of said beer in said keg and said air inlet coupling part yisadapted to be connected to a conduit having a check valve thereinopenable in the direction of the interior of said keg.

5. A tapping system as set forth in claim 3, having substantiallytransparent tubular means in communication at least with said beerdischarge coupling part to enable the character of the beer being'discharged to be observed during operation of said tapping system andmeans for holding the respective parts of said coacting coupling partsrespectively in locked engagement with said first-named 'coupling partsand controlled by quick releaseable means, said other coacting partsalso having a valve therein to close automatically upon separation ofthe parts in each coupling, and means to cover said parts xed withinsaid portion to protect them against entry of foreign material.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,272,888 Baluta July 16, 1918 1,441,171 Rice Jan. 2, 1923 2,165,684Stmck July 11, 1939 2,467,684 Meyer et al Apr. 19, 1949 2,989,091Lowenthal June 20, 1961 3,032,055 Heydon et al May 1, 1962 3,035,603Jamieson et al May 22, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 151,635 Switzerland Mar. 16,1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No,3,129,730 Apr-11 21, 1964 John F. Simon It s hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 57, for "subjected" read subject column 4, line I9, for"quckeconnected" read quickmconnec= tion Signed and sealed this 4th dayof August 1964.

(SEAL) Attest: ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A TAPPING SYSTEM FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, ALIQUID CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID CONTAINER MAY BEFILLED, A WELL CHAMBER IN THE SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CHAMBERBEING GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION JOINED TOTHE ADJOINING PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER, A PAIR OFQUICK-CONNECTED AXIAL MOVEMENT COUPLINGS EACH HAVING PARTS RESPECTIVELYCOMPRISING A MALE FITTING AND A FEMALE FITTING, EACH OF SAID FITTINGS OFA COUPLING HAVING A SELF-CLOSING VALVE THEREIN AUTOMATICALLY OPERATIVEUPON SEPARATION OF SAID PARTS, ONE OF SAID FITTINGS IN EACH COUPLINGBEING MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER AND EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY THROUGH THEBOTTOM THEREOF INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER,THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID RESPECTIVE LAST-NAMED FITTINGS BEING WHOLLYWITHIN SAID CHAMBER, A DISCHARGE PIPE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER CONNECTED TOONE OF SAID LAST-NAMED FITTINGS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THEOPPOSITE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID DISCHARGE PIPE HAVINGSCREEN MEANS THEREIN AND A BEND IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAIDOPENING, EACH OF THE OTHER OF SAID FITTINGS IN EACH COUPLING BEINGADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO FLEXIBLE HOSE CONDUITS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTEDTO A DISPENSER FOR SAID LIQUID AND TO A GAS PRESSURE SOURCE EXTERIORLYOF SAID LIQUID CONTAINER, A SIGHT TUBE CONNECTED AT LEAST TO THECOUPLING ADAPTED TO LEAD TO SAID DISPENSER AT ONE END AND SAID DISCHARGEPIPE AT THE OTHER, AND A CHECK VALVE POSITIONED IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONWITH SAID COUPLING LEADING TO SAID GAS PRESSURE SOURCE TO PREVENT FLUIDFLOW TOWARD SAID SOURCE.